More About Entering Competitions
As your advisor, I will screen out competitions
that are blatantly unethical or disadvantageous to the artist. Of the competitions
that are selected for this site, some may still not be ideal. In these
cases,
I will provide a “WARNING”:
look for the read warning advisory. Ultimately,
you need to decide what you feel is
fair & square.

With the exception of the “WARNING” advisory,
The competitions listed below follow these criteria:
• Rules are clear
• Entry fees are not excessive (most are free)
• List of judges are known or judging is by public voting.
• The release of ownership rights are clearly stated. Read
the prospectus carefully as most competitions require that you release your
ownership and rights
to the art.
• Awards match the fair market value (cash and/or travel expenses, publication,
PR, other)

The article on the right: “4
Elements of an Ethical Art Competition” by Thomas James,
Illustrator, clearly targets the most important points on how best to
evaluate art/design competitions you
may be planning to enter.

Please note: many of the competitions are not just
for students,
but are OPEN TO ALL: Students, Grads, Faculty & Staff.

Art Competitions can be a great way to challenge yourself
and show your work to a wider, more
relevant audience.

However, there is a difference between fair and
unfair
competitions, and sometimes even reputable organizations can miss the
mark. That’s why it’s important to evaluate each one on its
own terms to ensure that your rights are protected and that you understand
what is expected of both you and the contest holder. Be sure to examine
the terms of the competition closely and avoid any contests that potentially
compromise your rights as an artist.

To help you determine whether a particular contest
is
worth your time and money, here are 4 elements
to look for in an ethical
art competition:

1. Clearly Defined Terms
All contest holders should define all details of the competition in the
call for entries, such as the rules, entry fees, list of judges, judging
criteria, and intended usage of the artwork.

2. Statement of Artist’s Rights
In a fair competition, the artist should retain all ownership and rights
to the art, and the contest holder may only use or publish the image
as defined
in the call for entries.

3. Fair Award Value
All winners should receive an award that is
compatible with fair market
conditions in exchange
for any rights that are transferred to the contest
holder.

4. Insured Artwork
The condition of original artwork should be protected and insured by
the contest holder until it is returned to the artist.

Because every competition is different, you'll need
to
decide for yourself which ones are right for you. Hopefully, these 4
key factors will help you to separate the fair from the unfair and protect
yourself from unethical practices.

Please note: many of the competitions are not just
for
students, but are OPEN TO ALL: Students, Grads, Faculty & Staff.

Contact me if you have competitions you would like
to
post or if you have any questions or concerns about competitions and
events.